Russia alarmed by terrorists' attempts in Syria, Iraq to use toxic agents

June 05 2013

RBTH

Interfax

Moscow is alarmed by the Iraqi authorities' reports that terrorists in Iraq possess facilities for making chemical and toxic agents.

"Reports arriving from Iraq confirm the importance of being vigilant about terrorists' attempts in Syria and Iraq to stage provocations with the use of toxic agents, not fearing civilian deaths," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a commentary.

Iraqi Defense Ministry spokesman Mohammed al Askari said on June 1 that Iraqi special services had tracked down three illegal plants producing chemical weapons, owned by al Qaeda.

They manufactured yperite, sarin and other nerve gases. Also, means of delivering and dumping chemicals and toxic agents were found at two facilities on the outskirts of Baghdad and at a third in one of the country's provinces.

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Al Askari said the toxic agents made were to be used in Iraq, Syria, and also in the United States and Western Europe. Iraqi special services are investigating.`

"Moscow is alarmed by the Iraqi authorities' reports that terrorists in Iraq possess facilities for making chemicals and toxic agents. Not long ago, terrorist organizations in Syria, among them Jabhat al-Nusrah, pledged support to al Qaeda and formed the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria organization, active in both countries," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"We support the Iraqi government's resolute measures to combat the proliferation of chemical weapons, al Qaeda and groups linked to it. We are convinced that resistance to such threats will be effective if international cooperation is broadened and intensified, and if coordination of the collective efforts of all the parties concerned is raised to a qualitatively higher level," it said.